Puppy mill - 32 labradors seized
Salina, NY (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Apr 13, 2005
County: Onondaga

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: James Groth

Animal cruelty investigators rescued 21 adult dogs and 11 puppies from a house in Salina. They say the animals were living in unfit conditions.

"The conditions were extremely foul. Like I said, we could smell feces from the road. They had a living area in the back, a pen area, which was too small for that number of animals, so they were in their own feces," said Betsie Puffer of the SPCA.

James Groth was charged with 32 counts of animal cruelty. He surrendered his dogs to investigators.

Animal cruelty investigators say they were in poor living conditions. Now 32 labrador dogs need a new home. The dogs were seized from a house in the town of Salina.

With 32 dogs, the SPCA is running out of room. Some of the labs are sharing a pen because of the lack of space.

The SPCA hopes to find the dogs a loving home.

Despite their previous living conditions, investigators say the animals seem healthy. To be sure, they'll be checked by a veterinarian in the next couple of days.

Tamara Danner has two dogs and wants to adopt another. She says a lab would be a great addition to her family.

"They are affectionate. They are fearless in that they adopt well to various situations. They are very loving and easy going. They like children. I have three cats as well, they get along with the cats," says Tamara Danner.

"I think it's sad but as far as labs go they are really adoptable and I think they are all going to be placed in good homes and hopefully, it's going to work out well for all of them not that they been taken out of that environment," said Matt Kurinsky.

The SPCA says most of the labs will be available for adoption in about a week, but some of the puppies are a few days old. They won't be available for adoption for several weeks.

Groth was charged with 32 counts of improper confinement of an animal and is scheduled to appear April 20 in Salina Town Court to answer the charges.

References

• News 10 Now - April 13, 2005
• The Post-Standard - April 13, 2005

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